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12 Chapter Three The Hospital Mom has been sick a lot lately. A few weeks ago she went to the hospital to have hemorrhoids removed. I got in big trouble when my teacher called home to ask how my mother was doing. “Some things are to be kept a secret. Family matters are to stay in the house,” Mom told me afterwards. Now Mom’s in the hospital for something much more serious. “Your ma’s not doing well,” Dad informs us, “and when we get to the hospital I don’t want you saying nothing to her about it. She feels bad enough being in the hospital.” “What’s wrong with her?” I ask. “You’re too young to understand.” “Why?” Dad puts down his beer and looks like he’s about to cry. “Your ma has cancer. You know what that is?” My brother, sister, and I stare at him. No one answers. Without actually knowing what cancer is, we each have rather vivid images of what it must be. Cancer is what mothers die from. Mom’s mother died of cancer when she was eight and Dad’s mother died of cancer when he was seventeen. Cancer is what kills the mothers in our families. When my teacher reads in the paper that Mom’s in the hospital again, I won’t tell her why. This is definitely something we’ll have to keep a secret. “Your ma ain’t going to be feeling well when she gets home, so I don’t want no fighting from you kids. From now on, you got to pick up her share of the work.” We nod in agreement, then he goes back to watching his TV show, while we wonder what she’ll be like when she comes home from the hospital this time. It’ll be much worse than after the hemorrhoids; but how much worse? I have an uncomfortable feeling our mother’s cancer has just added years to our lives, the years Mom will soon be losing. Diane Payne 13 That night we get to drive to the hospital to visit Mom. Fortunately it’s a small hospital in Zeeland, and is only one floor. Children are not allowed to visit patients, even if it’s your mother. We find Mom’s window and wave. She lies in bed, tears rolling down her cheeks, and waves back. Dad told us not to cry. Smile and be brave. But only Mom is being honest. ...

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